Student perceptions of stress in writing a thesis at UIN Sunan Ampel: a phenomenological study

Abstract

Final year students often face major challenges in the form of academic stress, especially when writing their thesis. Various emotional and mental pressures arise due to factors such as confusion in determining the direction of research, difficulty in managing time, and heavy academic demands. This study focuses on the experiences of students at UIN Sunan Ampel, a campus with a religious culture, where a spiritual approach is considered relevant as a strategy to overcome stress. This study aims to understand the causes of stress, its impacts, and the strategies used by students to overcome it, with special attention to ablution as a form of hydrotherapy that has the potential to relieve academic anxiety. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study involved six final year students who were selected purposively. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis methods. The results showed that academic stress was caused by internal factors, such as fear of failure and confusion in connecting ideas, as well as external factors, such as social pressure and poor communication with supervisors. The impacts include anxiety, sleep disturbances, and decreased productivity. To overcome this, students use various strategies, such as carrying out religious activities (prayer and dhikr), managing time, seeking entertainment, and relying on social support. Ablution was also found to have a calming effect that helped students reduce stress. This study highlights the important role of spirituality and social support in helping students cope with academic stress. As a recommendation, campuses are advised to provide faith-based programs that support students' mental well-being.